Buffalo Council discusses third ESD attempt

Winnie Jefferson pins lieutenant bars upon her son, Craig Jefferson, at the Buffalo City Council. Photo by Mac Shadix The news that Palestine Regional Medical Center has decided to withdraw ambulance service from northeast Leon County led to a discussion of another ESD election for the area at the regular city council meeting at the Buffalo Senior Center on Monday night. Two previous attempts to install an ESD have failed. Mike Glick suggested linking the passage of an ESD with the reduction of the Buffalo tax rate might bring more support.

The ESD discussions overshadowed the rest of the agenda where the Council heard a preliminary report from Harold T. Hunter from the Community Resource Group, Inc. about the water and sewage rate increases that will be necessary to fund the improvements in the system. Those payments will continue until 2032.

Sergeant Craig Jefferson was promoted to Lieutenant to fill the position left behind by Jerry Wakefield as Wakefield took over the reins as Sheriff. Winnie Jefferson of Jewett pinned the new badge and bars on her son to the applause of those present.

The council declined to make any changes in the sale and use of fireworks in the city, tabled consideration of banning the discharge of firearms in the city, and tabled a two-hundred-plus page Policies and Procedures ordinance for the Police Department which no one apparently had read.

Following an executive session where visitors were literally left to 'cool their heels' outside as the council debated, they reconvened and voted to settle the easement in question with Gayle Ray.

The council discussed the situation of a mobile home on Merrill and Knox Streets in a wide ranging discussion that included Mayor Ken Steven's opinion of what Hispanics want. Someone thought that Buffalo needed zoning to take care of the problems. Someone else suggested that all grandfathering of mobile homes should end.